Chapter 245: Sheng Xiang has been promoted

Nighttime.

Hong Zhiyou drove a car and pulled over in the suburbs.

Yu Zecheng and Liao Sanmin were waiting there.

Seeing him get out of the car, Liao Sanmin flashed a flashlight at his face.

"Brother Min, it's been so long. The moment we meet, you want to blind me, huh?" Hong Zhiyou got out of the car, lit a cigarette, and asked with a smile.

"Apologies."

"I just wanted to be sure."

Liao Sanmin smiled faintly.

"Verify the goods."

Hong Zhiyou waved his hand.

Liao Sanmin got into the car, inspected it for a while, and nodded, saying, "No problem."

"Is your side reliable?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Yes."

"The transport line on my end is newly established."

"The guards on that side are our people. Even if they get caught, they will admit to it."

"No need to worry."

Liao Sanmin said.

"Fine."

"As long as we don't use Old Yu's line, I'll be relieved."

"Li Ya has his eyes on him now."

"You need to be careful too."

"Recently, at the latest National Defense Conference, the Generalissimo ordered a pincer attack on two fronts. The war at the front is intensifying, and the secret lines in the rear must also increase the investigation of Red agents."

"Ye Xiufeng is reshuffling the interior of the Party-Affairs Bureau; who knows if any of your people will be rooted out."

"Mao Renfeng has also increased the intensity of internal supervision."

"It's possible that a new Intelligence Section Chief will be sent down from above. The current situation is very unfavorable."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Yes, our prison also has a new warden assigned; he's not easy to talk to."

"Everyone, be careful."

"I'm leaving."

Liao Sanmin jumped into the car and drove away in a flash.

Hong Zhiyou got directly into Yu Zecheng's car.

"The higher-ups are sending a new Intelligence Section Chief? How come I didn't know?" Yu Zecheng said while driving.

"There are many things you don't know."

"If I told you that your people completely annihilated one of Hu Zongnan's heavy-armor divisions at Qinghuabian with six times the force, would you believe it?"

Hong Zhiyou said.

Historically, Hu Zongnan had only occupied Yancheng for three days before being surrounded by Red forces with six times the strength to the northeast of Yancheng, suffering heavy losses.

"Really?"

"That's great. We... we still have the strength to launch a large-scale counterattack. This shows that the organization's apparatus hasn't failed."

"I have to go back and have a drink tonight."

A long-lost smile appeared on Yu Zecheng's face.

"Let's talk business. Is headquarters really sending someone?" he asked while carefully choosing his route.

"Really."

"There was a routine meeting at the Ministry of National Defense today. Old Xie got the first-hand intelligence."

"The Station Chief might have already received the definite news. We should have a meeting tomorrow morning."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Who could it be?"

"Zheng Jiemin's man, or Mao Renfeng's?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"Most likely Zheng Jiemin's man."

"Mao Renfeng suffered a loss in Jinhai last time and owes the Station Chief a favor. No matter how thick-skinned he is, he wouldn't send someone at this time."

"The Generalissimo now intends to turn the blade inward, strengthening the interior, especially the reshuffling of the secret lines."

"The person sent down will definitely be looking to make moves."

"Going against the teacher—that kind of thankless task is not something a crafty person like Mao Renfeng would fight for."

Hong Zhiyou analyzed.

"The Cantonese Clique."

"These people are hard to deal with."

"However, it's best if it's not the Iron-Blooded Youth Corps. Li Ya alone is enough to give me a headache; if another one comes, I won't be able to work."

Yu Zecheng said with a headache.

"It won't be."

"The Generalissimo and Jiang Jianfeng still have a decent impression of the Station Chief."

"Overall, our station's achievements over the past two years are significantly better than other stations."

"Jiang Jianfeng hasn't reached the point where he must replace the Station Chief."

"Naturally, he won't send someone to embarrass the Station Chief openly."

Hong Zhiyou analyzed.

"Hmm, that's good."

"You said Mao Renfeng isn't watching Jinhai anymore, so why is Zheng Jiemin watching it again?"

"He and the Station Chief were once close partners, even tighter than Jiang Jianfeng and the Station Chief."

"Logically speaking, it shouldn't be like this."

Yu Zecheng shook his head, expressing his confusion.

"What else could it be?"

"Money, that's all."

"Lu Qiaoshan stumbled so badly in Beiping; why wasn't there even a disciplinary action? It's said he was even commended at the Second Department's internal meeting."

"Isn't it because Ma Hansan coughed up the goods?"

"Ke Shufen is addicted to this. She can't scrape anything more from Ma Hansan, so she's set her sights on the Station Chief."

"Think about it, the teacher's money-making methods were taught to him by Zheng Jiemin."

"How could he not know how much money the teacher has made?"

"This is an open grab."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"That's quite troublesome."

"If he wants to target the teacher, that's easier to handle; it's just about money."

"If he uses this matter to target me, then it's troublesome."

Yu Zecheng said.

"Hard to say, I can only say be extra careful." Hong Zhiyou lit a cigarette and exhaled toward the window.

"How much for the medicine?"

"Mr. Yong recently repatriated a large sum of US dollars; I can settle it for you." Yu Zecheng asked.

"Eighteen thousand... US dollars." Hong Zhiyou said.

"What?"

"Two boxes of medicine, you want eighteen thousand US dollars? Have you gone crazy for money?" Yu Zecheng exclaimed exaggeratedly.

"Please watch your wording."

"These are two large boxes."

"Large boxes."

"Large!"

Hong Zhiyou pointed out the key point.

When he does business, he can let friends make money, and he can earn less, but he absolutely cannot earn nothing.

This is the foundation of the way to wealth.

"Can it be less?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"No."

"One cent less, and I'll call Li Ya immediately and have him chase it back." Hong Zhiyou gave no room for negotiation.

He always gives Yu Zecheng benefits.

This guy has been spoiled; he wants cheap deals on everything he sees.

Can't get used to this habit.

Otherwise, he'd really become a philanthropist.

"Really can't negotiate?"

"No."

"Fine, deal."

"The money is in the bag, take it yourself."

Yu Zecheng said.

Hong Zhiyou opened the bag; inside were two stacks of US banknotes, ten thousand dollars per stack.

Clearly, Yong Jianqiu understood the market rate.

"Look at Mr. Yong's stature." Hong Zhiyou counted twenty bills, stuffed them back into the bag, and put the rest in his pocket.

Back to the courtyard.

Hong Zhiyou kicked Old Yu out of the car and drove toward No. 1 Changde Road.

It was rare that Wu Rui gave him a day off yesterday to accompany Miss Wanqiu.

One shouldn't go too far.

Tonight, he still had to go home to hold the child.

The next day.

Hong Zhiyou woke up, and Wu Rui was still sleeping.

Because she had to feed the baby herself.

The food at home was too rich, and Wu Rui often had blocked ducts; now she couldn't touch it at all, or it would hurt terribly.

The two of them slept very far apart.

Hong Zhiyou knew her hardships, got out of bed lightly, and kissed her on the forehead.

"Why are you so hot?"

Hong Zhiyou felt something was wrong, reached out to touch her, and her forehead was indeed burning hot.

"Kiss me again."

Wu Rui opened her eyes, her smile pale and weak.

"You have a fever."

"Why didn't you call me? Let's go, hurry to the hospital."

Hong Zhiyou complained with a heartache.

"You have so much to do, busy all day long; how could I hold you back?"

"Besides, it's not a big deal."

"It's just blocked."

"I'll call Liu Ma to massage it later; it'll be fine once it's cleared."

"You hurry to the station."

Wu Rui was as strong as ever.

"Really don't need to?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"No need." Wu Rui nodded.

"Fine, I'll come back early today. If it's still not cleared and the fever doesn't go down, you must listen to me and go to the hospital." Hong Zhiyou urged.

"Okay." Wu Rui nodded.

"Mom, Wu Rui seems to have blocked ducts and a fever again. Call Liu Ma to come over later."

"If it doesn't get better, take her to the hospital immediately."

"Also, have Chou'er boil some soup with less fat, keep the meals light. If this continues, the baby will get nutrition, but Wu Rui will suffer."

Hong Zhiyou finished washing up and gave instructions to Chen Qiuping while eating breakfast.

"Sigh."

"Why is this child so intolerant?"

"If she doesn't eat more, where will Lele get the milk?"

Chen Qiuping's mind was now entirely on her granddaughter, and she couldn't help but pout.

"That doesn't mean we only want the daughter and not... It's fine if the baby eats a little less."

"I'm leaving."

Hong Zhiyou picked up a pastry, stuffed it into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed some milk in a few gulps.

"Teacher, I'm going to the station first."

He bowed slightly to Wu Jingzhong, who was eating donkey-meat fire-baked buns, and walked out quickly.

"This son-in-law was worth finding; he knows how to care for people."

"Unlike you, back then at your house, when Wu Rui was burning with fever, the child cried for a long time and no one cared."

"Your mother acted like she didn't hear anything."

"She was just hoping that my daughter and I wouldn't make it."

Chen Qiuping turned her head to look at Wu Jingzhong, inexplicably remembering the past again.

"Cough, cough."

"This donkey-offal soup wasn't cooked through today; it has a fishy smell."

"Not eating it."

Wu Jingzhong put down his bowl and quickly grabbed his clothes to slip away first.

Arrived at the station.

Wu Jingzhong summoned Li Ya, Yu Zecheng, and Hong Zhiyou to his office.

After tea was served.

Wu Jingzhong looked at the three generals and said, "Three, headquarters has new personnel appointments. Li, you might have to set aside your concurrent position as Intelligence Section Chief."

"Teacher, wh... what do you mean?" Li Ya was a bit stunned.

"According to the opinions of the Second Department and headquarters, it has been decided to appoint a newcomer to serve as the Intelligence Section Chief at the Jinhai Station."

"You all know this person."

Wu Jingzhong said.

"Who?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"The former Archives Section Chief, Sheng Xiang." Wu Jingzhong said.

"Didn't Sheng Xiang apply to transfer to the Second Department last month?"

"Why is he back?"

Li Ya was very surprised.

"Sheng Xiang went to the Sixth Section of the Second Department and became an executive captain of the Intelligence Division. Following Lu Qiaoshan, within a month, they dismantled several important Red strongholds in Wannan and Yangzhou."

"Zheng Jiemin personally promoted him to Major."

"Promoted to a field officer, can't he come back to Jinhai now?"

"There is also another piece of news: Lu Qiaoshan is coming to Jinhai to recuperate. What do you all think?"

Wu Jingzhong crossed his arms, his gaze darting across the three men's faces.

"Teacher, it's very obvious. Lu Qiaoshan hasn't given up on the Jinhai Station and has set up Sheng Xiang as a puppet to come and find trouble." Yu Zecheng analyzed.

"I see this as aimed at me."

"Heh, can't be an imperial envoy, so he sets up a substitute to fight me."

"Fine, I'll take it all."

Li Ya bit the corner of his mouth and sneered.

"Regardless, we must be on guard."

"Sheng Xiang is sent down by the Second Department, so he has somewhat of the meaning of a special commissioner. On the surface, you still need to do the necessary courtesies."

Wu Jingzhong instructed.

"Understood." Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"Zhiyou, you go to the airport to pick him up this afternoon, and by the way, invite him to dinner at the Astor Hotel and hold a simple welcome ceremony." Wu Jingzhong added.

"Yes, Teacher." Hong Zhiyou stood up to accept the order.

"Teacher, I have something to do, I'll go out first." Seeing there was nothing else, Li Ya left first.

Yu Zecheng and Hong Zhiyou remained.

"Two, I didn't want to speak clearly in front of Li Ya just now."

"Lu Qiaoshan and Sheng Xiang joining forces to launch a counterattack is Zheng Jiemin's intention, and it's also aimed at me."

"According to Section Chief Xiao's news."

"Recently, unfamiliar faces have often appeared near the Hexi residence."

"That young master of Zhang Xun's owes a pile of gambling debts in Jingling and has been caught by others; it must be that this kid said something."

"Zheng Jiemin is jealous; he didn't get enough from Ma Hansan in Beiping, so he's coming to dig up my foundation again."

Wu Jingzhong said.

"Hmm."

"If that's the case, we really have to be on guard." Yu Zecheng said.

"Sheng Xiang is a person who forgets righteousness for profit and is not worth worrying about."

"And I know about his past dirty laundry, so he can't stir up any waves."

"But be careful with Lu Qiaoshan; this person just suffered a loss in Beiping, and he won't be reconciled."

"Who knows what kind of ghost ideas he'll come up with."

"It's still best to be careful."

Wu Jingzhong nodded and said.

As they were talking, "good news" came over the radio again.

"Commander Hu Zongnan's 280,000-strong army continues to advance north and northeast of Yancheng, annihilating 100,000 Red bandits..."

"Cough, cough."

"Commander Hu has won another victory. A few days ago it was 230,000 troops, and in the blink of an eye, it's 280,000. The more they fight, the more people they have. It seems they've incorporated many, and in my opinion, total victory is not far off."

Yu Zecheng secretly glanced at Hong Zhiyou and said with a forced smile.

"Victory my ass."

"My old friend at the Xi'an Pacification Commissioner's Office revealed that Yancheng is completely empty; there was no heavy damage at all. They just caught a few ordinary commoners and are bragging everywhere."

"Yesterday at Qinghuabian, it's said that Hu Zongnan's pursuing legion was counter-encircled by the Red forces, losing at least one full division's worth of strength."

"These news reports and broadcasts are all blown out of proportion for the Generalissimo and the commoners to hear."

"Seeking glory and inflating battle achievements."

"The standard performance of the Nationalist Army."

"You and I should both have an idea. In my opinion, the future is really uncertain."

"If you don't believe me, go look at their handiwork."

"The battles are fought like sculptural art; every single one is a master's work."

"Sigh."

"I am very worried about the Generalissimo's wisdom; is there any chance of winning?"

Wu Jingzhong sighed and said.

Upon hearing this, Yu Zecheng breathed a long sigh of relief in secret.

It seems what Zhiyou said was all true.

Hu Zongnan is just bluffing, and the organization's apparatus is still very well preserved.

"Alright, you two go get busy, notify Section Chief Li to clean up the Intelligence Section office and vacate it." Wu Jingzhong instructed.

He really looked down on goods like Sheng Xiang.

But who asked him to be sent down under Zheng Jiemin's name?

Face still had to be given.

Hong Zhiyou went to the Intelligence Section; Li Ya was giving a lecture and packing things up.

"In the whole station, besides the Station Chief's office, the Intelligence Section's office is the most spacious."

"It's a bargain for that dog Sheng Xiang."

Li Ya winked at Hong Zhiyou and sneered with an unhappy face.

"What skills could Sheng Xiang have?"

"I think he will die at your hands sooner or later, Section Chief Li."

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

"Heh, then I'll take your auspicious words, brother."

"It's best if he doesn't provoke me; if he dares to go all the way to the dark with Lu Qiaoshan, that's a dead end."

Li Ya's eyes sharpened as he said.

"I have to go out on a job tonight."

"I won't go to dinner."

Li Ya gave instructions and went to the Station Chief's office.

Arrived at the Station Chief's office.

He closed the door and whispered:

"Teacher, the two boxes of penicillin I kept privately have been sold."

"Didn't sell much."

"This little token, please accept it, Teacher."

As he spoke, he took two thousand US dollars out of his pocket with a pained expression and placed it on the table.

Wu Jingzhong was simply speechless.

Two large boxes of penicillin must be worth at least ten thousand US dollars.

Two thousand?

Is this to dismiss a beggar?

Sigh.

A selfish person.

Giving opportunities doesn't work; can't be trained.

"Li Ya."

"I am very satisfied that you have this heart."

"You haven't had it easy these past two years."

"Take it, you're still young, and you have more places to spend money than I do."

Wu Jingzhong didn't even look and pushed it back.

"Thank you, Teacher."

"Then... then I won't be polite."

"To tell you the truth, I've been a bit tight on cash recently; I borrowed quite a lot from the underground bank to prepare for Yingxue's wedding."

Li Ya smiled and really put the money into his pocket.

Wu Jingzhong had never seen someone so tactless.

A gentle smile still hung on his face:

"Hu Zongnan's side has called to urge us; if there's nothing else, hurry up and escort the goods on your way."

"Yes, Teacher."

Li Ya accepted the order happily.

Three o'clock in the afternoon.

Li Ya and Adjutant Zhou came to the escort convoy together.

"Section Chief Li, how do you want to arrange this escort?" Adjutant Zhou asked.

"From Jinhai through Baxian, then into Baoding, then south into Handan, straight to the interior of Yunan to transfer to Xi'an."

"Along the way, we will pass through Sun Lianzhong's and Fu Zuoyi's southern defense zones."

"There might also be some Red Mobile Corps Commander teams in the mountains, bandits, etc."

"How many people did you bring?"

Li Ya asked.

"Because the original plan was to take the train, I didn't bring many people, just over a hundred good hands." Adjutant Zhou said.

"That's very troublesome."

"I just called and asked; there are landslides in several places along the way, and the railway line has been interrupted. It won't be repaired for half a month."

"If we rely solely on manpower."

"With this amount, I'm afraid we can't even beat the bandits."

Li Ya said.

"What are you afraid of? How many bandits can there be?"

"You add another fifty people, prepare enough ammunition, and 150 people are enough to fight a sniper battle."

"As for other legions."

"I have Commander Hu's hand-written order; I assume they don't have the guts to intercept our things."

Adjutant Zhou was still very confident.

"Fine."

"Let's go then."

Li Ya had always been very confident; two confident people getting together to make a decision was naturally fast.

Mainly, he didn't have any good feelings toward Hu Zongnan; if it really got intercepted by Fu Zuoyi or Sun Lianzhong, it had nothing to do with him.

Jinhai.

In a seaside garden villa.

Lu Qiaoshan was stirring coffee.

Sheng Xiang sat to the side, crossing his legs, his leg shaking.

"Look at your demeanor."

"Are you worthy of being an Intelligence Section Chief?"

"Put your leg down, what are you shaking for? You deserve to never save money, a pauper's life."

He scolded angrily.

"Yes, yes."

"Isn't this thanks to you and Deputy Minister Zheng? Otherwise, how could it be my turn?"

Sheng Xiang nodded and bowed, putting his leg down.

"You go get busy first, find a good barbershop, wash your hair well, and get rid of the grease on your face."

"There's still your welcome party tonight, don't embarrass me."

"Go."

Lu Qiaoshan waved his hand and instructed.

After Sheng Xiang left.

He picked up the landline and dialed a number:

"The address is..."

"Good, come over, I just happen to want to talk to you too."

Hung up the phone.

He tasted the coffee and closed his eyes to savor it very enjoyably.

It still has to be the coffee brewed with Jinhai's water that's fragrant.

It seems I really have a connection with this place.

A moment later, the doorbell rang.

Lu Qiaoshan waved his hand at Li Zhong: "Go, bring the person up."

Soon.

Hong Zhiyou stepped on the stairs and arrived at the balcony on the second floor.

"Brother Shan, you found a good place."

"Mountains and water."

"Flowers and grass."

"To be honest, I've been in Jinhai for so long, and I didn't know there was such a fairyland on earth."

Hong Zhiyou praised him as soon as they met.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 246 =====